About: Alex

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Hi, my names Alex Zegart, I'm from the Bay Area, California. The main things that I enjoy are kayaking and playing sports. I'm 16 and a junior at New River Academy, it's my first year and so far I'm having a great time and I know that it's going to be a great year.

Posts by Ziggy:

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    Cara Del Indio Animals at their Finest

    Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
    During our stay at Cara Del Indio everyone at NRA had an awesome time. We got to experience the amazing big water of the Futaleufu River, experience Futa fest, and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in Chile. While we stayed at Cara del Indio everyone ended up becoming attached to certain animals, well mostly the kittens, and then for a few of us the pigs too. So for my photography final I decided to document the animals of Cara del Indio using the techniques taught to media class this quarter and last semester by Matt Smink and David Hughes. The main techniques for this assignment that I used were: the rule of thirds, balancing elements, leading lines, viewpoint, background, framing, cropping, and experimentation.

     

    Edgar ‘the early bird’. One of two roosters that would roam around Cara del Indio, usually giving us a nice friendly reminder around 5-5:30 in the morning to wake up. Which usually just made some of our group want to kick it, kill it, and/or eat it.

     

    The second of the two roosters at Cara del Indio, nicknamed ‘loony’ because he always seemed half crazy or looked completely insane.

     

    One of the mothers of a flock of baby chickens, caught taking a breather munching on grass.

     

    A faithful watchdog of Cara del Indio, and a master of stare contests (undefeated champion).

     

    The favorite of the five kittens being more adventurous, entertaining and all around playful. Shown here trying his first taste of some nice fresh rusty nail…

     

    He looks cute, but was a scared-y cat because Hunt always would look at him as if he were a giant plate of bacon and sometimes run after him.

    He looks cute, but was a scared-y cat because Hunt always would look at him as if he were a giant plate of bacon and sometimes run after him.

     

    The only horse we saw prepared for riding, (unfortunately it was Cara del Indio’s) while we went on our epic invisible horse riding adventure.

     

    Our local milk producer for the few weeks we stayed at the Futaluefu.

     

    Le Trencho! The leader of a mischievous gang of garbage thieves and scavengers.

     

    The cutest and the softest of the five kittens growing up at Cara del Indio.

     

    SALTO! The awesome dog that our school has 'adopted' at Pucon Kayak Hostel.

     

    Two of the kittens being fed by our school, since their mom died they have been living off what scraps we could give them.

     

    Another cute kitten.

     

    Then there's Drew, trying to persuade the school to adopt the cow because he became so attached to it.

     

    Kitten attack!!

     

    Kitten Fire!

     

    The drowned mother of five awesome, cute, playful kittens. RIP

    The drowned mother of five awesome, cute, playful kittens. RIP

     

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    Rules of Photography

    Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

    In photo class we have been learning about the rules of photography, so far we have gone over leading lines, balancing equations and the rule of thirds as well as how to use shutter speed to create awesome photos.

     

    Galen: Rule of Thirds

     

    Leading Lines

     

    Hunts Eye: Leading Lines

     

    Leading Lines to the upcoming model

     

    Hunt

     

    Grapes Balancing Equations

     

    Balancing Equations

     

    Leona Falls with a slower shutter speed

     

    Where we are staying and Photo with Depth

     

    Background with our local dog

     

    Framing with Chris

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    Don’t Dam the Majestic Maipo

    Sunday, November 27th, 2011

    The Maipo is one of Chiles’ great Rivers, running through the countryside as a source of water, entertainment and for some a livelihood. As I have been staying at the Astorgas’ along with the rest of New River Academy we have realized that because of Santiagos’ large size as a city, they want to take water from the Maipo and send it along a pipe to Santiago, draining tons of the Maipos’ water and causing the river to shrink in size.

    The damming will most likely stop boating or make it basically impossible and many other activities and needs of locals and tourists alike will probably be stopped or unable to be done. So in our effort to make the unfairness of the damming known, we have interviewed a few locals who would greatly be affected by the damming of the Maipo including some of the Astorgas, mainly Pangal Astorga and Lorenzo Astorga.

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    Pucon Chile

    Saturday, November 26th, 2011

    While staying at Pucon Kayak Hostel we have traveled far and wide, but one of our favorite places to go is Pucon. A 10 minute drive away from the Hostel where we can have class, get internet, shop, and hangout. Pucon is the place to be in Chile, a ski and raft town, with a volcano constantly towing above the town, if compared to anything it reminds me of Tahoe, California; for Chileans this is their Tahoe, with a lake, mountains and an awesome town.

    The Volcano, constantly towering over the town of Pucon

    One of many places offering tours to the Volcano and of Pucon

    Rafting and Climbing and Skiing!!

    Trancura Adventura, one of the many raft companys in Pucon

    On the side of main street, usually with the volcano framed behind it.

    Another main atraction in Pucon, bikes

    Gringo trying to fit in....unsuccessfully

    A sick sign for the Pucon fire department

    A cheese stand, fresh cheese is the best in Chile

    Racks of cool, homemade garnments ranging from sweaters and socks to spoons and forks.

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    Pucon Kayak Hostel, A Riverside Luxury

    Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

    Pucon Kayak Hostel is located directly next to the Trancura, a fun class 2-4 river, and a awesome run for any level of boater. The Hostel consists of two main buildings, not including the one being built on “stilts”, it has 2 almost 3 domes and a kinsho (a covered outdoor kitchen/eating area). Overall the Hostel is a comfy, beautiful and sick place to be, with amazing food and riverside access and sweet views.

    The entrance sign seen from the roadside

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The driveway to the Hostel

     

    The reception room, along with the teachers cabins

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cabin 9, being hidden by an assortment of kayaking gear

     

    The back of the Cabins where Dave is letting NRA stay

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Kinsho from the outside

     

    The Kinshos' fire-pit, the warmest place around

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The comfiest room of all, the dome, with a queen and twin bed including a foldout couch that makes another queen sized bed.

     

    Where we store all our kayaks and gear, just behind there are bathrooms with showers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Go Huge Kayaking

     

    The old entrance to Pucon Kayak Hostel

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Volcano that towers above Pucon, a perfect view from directly outside the Hostel

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    What Dinner is like at New River Academy

    Friday, November 18th, 2011

    In English class we have been reading The Great Gatsby, and for a fun assignment I try writing in the strange, but splendid way of Fitzgerald. This piece of writing is my take on Fitzgeralds’ writing style and a perfect and real example of NRA mealtimes…..except the my last depiction of students retreating to separate corners, when, in fact, we all crowd around a large community table.

    Writing like Fitzgerald

                It was finally dinnertime, everything was set up as it should be, except one thing was missing, the food. The plates were stacked mostly yellow with a few orange, on that rickety old counter, then one by the sink with the cupboard. The utensils were all in a crowded container in a tangle of spoons, forks and knives, fighting to get to the top. The cups were lined up, one after another, glistening with reflected light from the dancing of the fire pit, going from a glowing orange to a leaping yellow. Everybody was lined up waiting for the meal to come, a small line, only twelve or thirteen people; some people had missed the call for dinner. Then with a flourish, in came a steaming tray of meat sauce, and behind it like a dog on a leash came the pasta, golden and steaming and looking as yummy as can be. With a triumphant yell the thirteen descended upon it as a swarm of bees would a bear, and in a matter of seconds, the food was all gone. Nothing left except a few meager scraps at the bottom of the tray and thirteen overly large portions disappearing by the bite full in separate corners of the room.

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    Trek for Breakfast

    Friday, November 4th, 2011

    Every morning the students of New River Academy and the teachers all have to go on a hike to reach breakfast. If we are even five minutes late to the meeting point at the gate before the bridge, there will be no breakfast because the gate will be shut and locked. it also sucks for any person that is late or misses breakfast because he or she gets the satisfying job of missing food and also experiences the fun of carrying their own 50 pound creek boat around to classes all day. It’s quite funny until it happens to you.

    After just waking up New River Academy Students prepare for the hike to breakfast.

    The trek slowly begins making our way from our campsite down towards the Maipo and the bridge to cross it.

    The bridge NRA crosses every morning to reach breakfast.

    The Bridge can even support the weight of a truck!

    NRA students wait at the locked gate, while a teacher brings a key to unlock it.

    The gate is unlocked and students begin the crossing of the Maipo.

    As NRA students cross the bridge they run side to side making the bridge sway for a little "crossing adventure"

    Some students are still asleep as they walk to breakfast.....

    The real trek begins after the bridge, on a dirt path towards carlas' house.

    The hike continues up a grueling climb...all for food.

    A confusing sign directs us towards Carlas' house, and other fun stuff.

    The sketchy bridge and the last leg of our jouney to Carlas' house.

    Dave even has to walk his bike across the sketchy bridge.

    The sketchy bridge even makes Fly have to hang on with both hands to be able to cross it.

    After crossing the sketchy bridge there is one last hill that we had to hike up before reaching our final destination.

    Even after the hike some kids are still tired, so we have to do a morning workout.

    An exciting workout finally wakes up all of the NRA students.

    A thanks for the morning workout and for cooking us lunch and breakfast goes to Philipe.

    Some people just need coffee to be woken up.

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    Procrastination. It sucks

    Friday, November 4th, 2011

    Procrastination is something that every teenager excels at, but is something that every teenager also tries to avoid. Procrastination always ends up being a stupid waste of time, either sitting down doing nothing prolonging the homework or assignment or having fun then rushing it at the last minute. No matter which one it is, procrastination sucks, even though we think it may be good and let us have fun at the time being, procrastination will just cause you undue stress and as said earlier makes your work really crappy and rushed instead of thought out and well paced. So try not to procrastinate, and have fun, but do your work ahead of time either in small sequences or all of it at once early, because then you will not have to worry about it and you will end up doing better work, try it sometimes and see the difference.

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    The Family Photoshoot

    Thursday, October 27th, 2011

    In this blog assignment we were supposed to get creative pictures of our family but not only was this a photo-shoot, but we also were supposed to experiment with the f-stop and shutter speed taking creative and different shots.

    A failed posed photo

     

    My two brothers William and Noah aka the little monsters

    Noah age 3

    William age 5

    William after a day of school munching on a cookie

    My dad Jamin, talking on the phone, as he loves to do...

    My mom Joanna, infront of a painting in out living room

    A good posed photo

     

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    Local Photographer: Harold Zegart

    Thursday, October 27th, 2011

    For this assignment we had to find an interview a local photographer. As my choice i decided to interview my grandpa who has done many great portraits and photos over the years.

    1. Describe the steps you have taken to earning money for photography.
      The steps that i took to earning money in photography were sending my pictures into local magazines or newspapers, not only that though sometimes my friend would ask for a photo of mine and get it published somewhere.
    2. Are most of your photos freelance or studio?
      freelance.
    3. What is your favorite aspect of photography?
      The power that the photo has on a person.
    4. What has been the most challenging obstruction to becoming a professional photographer?
      Getting people to notice your work for what it is really worth, and knowing/not knowing the right people.
    5. What advice can you share?
      Enjoy photography, watch your lighting and be creative
    6. Do you prefer film or digital?  Why?
      Well I never had the chance to try digital and have always used film, so i guess i couldn’t really answer that question.
    7. What is your favorite subject?  Why?
      My favorite subject was all the planes coming back from the war, since i was in a rear gunner i could see all of them, and i got hundreds of pictures of these “fleets” of planes, but those photos all got lost but i will still remember the sight.
    8. Do you have a favorite camera?  Why?
      No, any camera that worked was always good enough for me.
    9.  Where do you get creative ideas for shots and backgrounds?
      Wherever something seems to stick out or look really interesting or affective to the eye.

      A black and white picture of three girls

       

      2 sheep staying close together

      a black and white landscape

       

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New River Academy
Rt. 2 Box 245
Fayetteville, WV 25484
(304)- 574-0403
Fax: (304) 513-2247
New River Academy

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